Imaging skin with polarized light

Abstract

Pathology in skin often occurs in the superficial layers of the epidermis and invades the papillary dermis. Imaging with linearly polarized light allows selection of photons that have reflected from these superficial tissue layers and rejection of photons that have penetrated deeply into the reticular dermis. Consequently, the image contrast is concentrated in the superficial tissue layers where pathology arises and invasion occurs.